Venezuela sacks fifth opposition mayor in two weeks

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered the removal and imprisonment of a Caracas-area mayor for not obeying orders to shut down protests in his district.

David Smolansky is the fifth opposition mayor to be removed or jailed in little more than two weeks as President Nicolas Maduro attempts to consolidate his power by going after his enemies.He was sentenced to 15 months in jail in a ruling Wednesday night.

Speaking from an undisclosed location, Smolansky rallied his people to protest to defend their district.

Ramon Muchacho, mayor of the wealthy Chacao district of capital city Caracas was also sacked on Tuesday and sentenced to 15 months in prison by the Supreme Court.